H.L. Wampler's Blog
November 3, 2013
On sale for a short time!
Guess what's on sale?
The Last Alive!
Go over here
and get your copy for $3.49 instead of $4.99!!!
The Last Alive!
Go over here
and get your copy for $3.49 instead of $4.99!!!
October 26, 2013
Sit Down with Alexandra Bogdanovic
Today I am sitting down with Alexandra Bogdanovic, author of Truth Be Told.
Welcome, Alexandra! Thank you for taking the time to sit down with me!
Me: What books/authors have influenced your writing?
Alexandra: This is a good question � one I generally have a hard time answering.
The people who influenced my writing most aren’t actually authors. They’re the sports writers and editors who mentored me when I began writing for a daily newspaper in high school. I started by writing small blurbs with the game results, who scored, etc. During what was essentially a four-year apprenticeship, I learned to write “game stories� and feature stories.
Without that small, but dedicated group of people who helped nurture my talent all of those years ago, I never would have become an award-winning journalist and I wouldn’t have the ability or the courage to share my story.
Me: How did you come up with the title(s)?
Alexandra: I was listening to the radio one day and a song came on that included the lyrics, “truth be told.� It just resonated with me.
I found it especially appropriate because my book is a brutally honest account of how I met, fell in love with and married the man of my dreams only to find out that he self-identified as and planned on having gender reassignment surgery to become a woman. I also share what happened after I discovered this shocking secret.
Me: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Alexandra: “Truth Be Told: Adam Becomes Audrey� is a memoir, so it is based entirely on events in my own life.
I felt compelled to tell my story because it provides a different perspective on an oft-told tale. While many members of the LGBT community share their stories in their own books or through the mainstream media, we seldom hear how their experiences affect their families and friends. I wanted to give those people a voice and to let them know their stories are important, too.
Me: What books have most influenced your life most?
Alexandra: That’s another good, but tough question. I discovered my own “voice� as a young writer, and while it has grown a bit over the years, I’ve been determined not to be swayed by anyone else’s style. So in that sense, as a writer, I can’t honestly say I’ve been influenced by any books. I can’t say, “I read this book and decided to become a writer,� or “I read this book and decided to change my writing style.�
Now, as a voracious reader, I’d say the books that influenced my life most are those I read as a child. They were the classics � The Black Stallion, Black Beauty, Charlotte’s Web, Anne of Green Gables� There are almost too many to mention!
Me: What book are you reading now?
Alexandra: I’m reading Witch Wraith: The Dark Legacy of Shannara, by Terry Brooks. I love science fiction and fantasy, and Terry Brooks is one of my favorite authors.
Me: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Alexandra: I’m sad to say, no. But that’s not because there aren’t any great new authors out there. It’s because I’ve been so wrapped up in my own work, I haven’t had a chance to pay attention to anything else.
Me: What are your current projects?
Alexandra: I am getting ready to start the research for my second book, which will be based on my father’s life as a staunch anti-Communist and political refugee in post-World War II Europe.
Me: Do you see writing as a career?
Alexandra: Yes. I plan on writing at least two more books. And since I’ll need a day job (unless I hit the lottery or land a really sweet publishing deal) I also plan on transitioning into a new career where I can capitalize upon my writing skills. I’ve already devoted more than 20 years to a career in community journalism. Now I’m ready to try something else.
Me: If you could change anything in your book, would you?
Alexandra: No. It’s not perfect � I don’t think there’s any such thing as the perfect book � but I’m proud of the final product. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Me: How did you get started with the writing venture?
Alexandra: I was born to write.
As I said earlier, I started writing for a daily newspaper when I was in high school. I essentially did a four-year apprenticeship while I was in high school and a one-year college internship at the same paper. I officially began my journalism career soon after graduating from college in 1991 and the rest is history.
Me: Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?
Alexandra: It is mentally grueling. The quest to find just the right word to convey an idea in just the right way� It never ends, especially if you’re a perfectionist!
Me: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Alexandra: If this is something you really, really want to do, go for it. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it or it won’t amount to anything. But be realistic. Very few people become rich or famous doing this. If you’re just doing it for the money, you’re doing it for the wrong reason.
Me: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Alexandra: Yes. Thank you for your interest in my work. If you take nothing else away from this book, please remember that no matter what you see or read in the mainstream media, there is always another side to the story. Don’t take anything you see or read at face value.
Me: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
Alexandra: The hardest part of writing “Truth� was that I was telling my own story.
Me: What genre do you like writing the most?
Alexandra: To date I’ve only written a memoir, so I’d say that’s my favorite!
Me:Do you ever experience writer's block?
Alexandra: Of course! Don’t we all?
For me the best way to avoid it is to do “block writing.� I just write anything that comes to mind and worry about cleaning it up later. That way I don’t get stuck and waste time trying to make something work.
Me: Do you write an outline before every book you write?
Alexandra: No. I definitely flew by the seat of my pants when I wrote “Truth.� I think it worked out because I was writing about my own experiences and I knew exactly how I wanted to share what happened.
Me: Have you ever hated something you wrote?
Alexandra: Absolutely! As a reporter it happened all the time. A deadline loomed. The right words proved elusive. An editor demanded copy. Just spell check, hit save and send. File it. Forget about it. Start the next story. It’s all I could do.
Welcome, Alexandra! Thank you for taking the time to sit down with me!
Me: What books/authors have influenced your writing?
Alexandra: This is a good question � one I generally have a hard time answering.
The people who influenced my writing most aren’t actually authors. They’re the sports writers and editors who mentored me when I began writing for a daily newspaper in high school. I started by writing small blurbs with the game results, who scored, etc. During what was essentially a four-year apprenticeship, I learned to write “game stories� and feature stories.
Without that small, but dedicated group of people who helped nurture my talent all of those years ago, I never would have become an award-winning journalist and I wouldn’t have the ability or the courage to share my story.
Me: How did you come up with the title(s)?
Alexandra: I was listening to the radio one day and a song came on that included the lyrics, “truth be told.� It just resonated with me.
I found it especially appropriate because my book is a brutally honest account of how I met, fell in love with and married the man of my dreams only to find out that he self-identified as and planned on having gender reassignment surgery to become a woman. I also share what happened after I discovered this shocking secret.
Me: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Alexandra: “Truth Be Told: Adam Becomes Audrey� is a memoir, so it is based entirely on events in my own life.
I felt compelled to tell my story because it provides a different perspective on an oft-told tale. While many members of the LGBT community share their stories in their own books or through the mainstream media, we seldom hear how their experiences affect their families and friends. I wanted to give those people a voice and to let them know their stories are important, too.
Me: What books have most influenced your life most?
Alexandra: That’s another good, but tough question. I discovered my own “voice� as a young writer, and while it has grown a bit over the years, I’ve been determined not to be swayed by anyone else’s style. So in that sense, as a writer, I can’t honestly say I’ve been influenced by any books. I can’t say, “I read this book and decided to become a writer,� or “I read this book and decided to change my writing style.�
Now, as a voracious reader, I’d say the books that influenced my life most are those I read as a child. They were the classics � The Black Stallion, Black Beauty, Charlotte’s Web, Anne of Green Gables� There are almost too many to mention!
Me: What book are you reading now?
Alexandra: I’m reading Witch Wraith: The Dark Legacy of Shannara, by Terry Brooks. I love science fiction and fantasy, and Terry Brooks is one of my favorite authors.
Me: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Alexandra: I’m sad to say, no. But that’s not because there aren’t any great new authors out there. It’s because I’ve been so wrapped up in my own work, I haven’t had a chance to pay attention to anything else.
Me: What are your current projects?
Alexandra: I am getting ready to start the research for my second book, which will be based on my father’s life as a staunch anti-Communist and political refugee in post-World War II Europe.
Me: Do you see writing as a career?
Alexandra: Yes. I plan on writing at least two more books. And since I’ll need a day job (unless I hit the lottery or land a really sweet publishing deal) I also plan on transitioning into a new career where I can capitalize upon my writing skills. I’ve already devoted more than 20 years to a career in community journalism. Now I’m ready to try something else.
Me: If you could change anything in your book, would you?
Alexandra: No. It’s not perfect � I don’t think there’s any such thing as the perfect book � but I’m proud of the final product. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Me: How did you get started with the writing venture?
Alexandra: I was born to write.
As I said earlier, I started writing for a daily newspaper when I was in high school. I essentially did a four-year apprenticeship while I was in high school and a one-year college internship at the same paper. I officially began my journalism career soon after graduating from college in 1991 and the rest is history.
Me: Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?
Alexandra: It is mentally grueling. The quest to find just the right word to convey an idea in just the right way� It never ends, especially if you’re a perfectionist!
Me: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Alexandra: If this is something you really, really want to do, go for it. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it or it won’t amount to anything. But be realistic. Very few people become rich or famous doing this. If you’re just doing it for the money, you’re doing it for the wrong reason.
Me: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Alexandra: Yes. Thank you for your interest in my work. If you take nothing else away from this book, please remember that no matter what you see or read in the mainstream media, there is always another side to the story. Don’t take anything you see or read at face value.
Me: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
Alexandra: The hardest part of writing “Truth� was that I was telling my own story.
Me: What genre do you like writing the most?
Alexandra: To date I’ve only written a memoir, so I’d say that’s my favorite!
Me:Do you ever experience writer's block?
Alexandra: Of course! Don’t we all?
For me the best way to avoid it is to do “block writing.� I just write anything that comes to mind and worry about cleaning it up later. That way I don’t get stuck and waste time trying to make something work.
Me: Do you write an outline before every book you write?
Alexandra: No. I definitely flew by the seat of my pants when I wrote “Truth.� I think it worked out because I was writing about my own experiences and I knew exactly how I wanted to share what happened.
Me: Have you ever hated something you wrote?
Alexandra: Absolutely! As a reporter it happened all the time. A deadline loomed. The right words proved elusive. An editor demanded copy. Just spell check, hit save and send. File it. Forget about it. Start the next story. It’s all I could do.
October 12, 2013
Sit Down with Alex Jones!
Today I'm grabbing a latte and sitting down with Alex Jones, author of Broken Wings, and a fellow Rebel like me!
Thanks for stopping over, Alex! Let's get started!
Me: What inspired you to write your first book?
Alex: I wrote Drown when I was a junior/senior in high school. I am a very intense person, but also very quiet, and writing was my way of getting all that intensity out. One day I just started writing it, and the story grew over time. Writing was my hobby and my coping mechanism� It still is! But Drown dealt heavily with issues I was facing myself at the time � faith and hate, love and shame.
Me: Do you have a specific writing style?
Alex: I think the key feature of my writing is intense emotion. I write in several different genres, but the thing that unites all my stories are complex characters and high-stakes plots. That’s the fun of writing romance, though. I get to promise my characters a happy ending, even if the road to it is difficult.
Me: How did you come up with the title?
Alex: Drown’s title came directly from a line in the book: “Dominic returned to his Bible and Damion returned to his blade, and both drowned in the words of their gods.�
Me: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Alex: The message/theme in Drown is self-empowerment, being responsible for your own happiness and sense of value. Both of my main characters struggle with self-esteem for different reasons, and their lesson to learn is that they have value independent of what others think—even each other.
Me: How much of the book is realistic?
Alex: Drown is a modern romance, and doesn’t have any paranormal events. It is written a bit in the vein of literary fiction, though, so I chose my focus very intentionally. Every scene has a purpose, and I throw a bit of symbolism in.
Me: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
A;ex: Damion and Dom both face challenges I did � I grew up in a Christian home the way Damion did, and I struggled with depression and self-harm. I also fought to define myself as a bisexual Christian the way Dom does. The events in the book aren’t based literally on my experiences, but the thematic elements and the internal conflicts within Dom and Damion both ring very true to me.
Me: What books have most influenced your life most?
Alex: J.R.R. Tolkien’s works have influenced me the most, hands down! His writing has influenced mine, and his stories have been a part of my life since I was young.
Me: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Alex: Honestly, my husband Anthony Gillis has been my mentor in many ways. He writes fantasy, sci-fi and historical adventure novels. He has a more analytical mind than I do, so he often finds the stray holes in my writing (world-building, etc) that my intuitive mind has failed to consider. I call him my compass: when I lose my way, he’s always there to help me find my way home.
Me: What book are you reading now?
Alex: Right now I’m reading The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian.
Me: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Alex: I’ve really enjoyed reading the Nevermore series by Kelly Creagh. I also adore R. Cooper’s works!
Me: What are your current projects?
Alex: My current big romance project is Rook, the second book in my Knights of Amaranth series. I’m also working on an epic fantasy story collection called Ere the Dawn, a fantasy romance called Serpent, and a modern romance called Losing the Shore. I like to multitask!
Me: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
Alex: Rebel Ink Press has been an incredible home for me over the last year. I’m so grateful for everything they’ve done, and all the hard work they’ve put in to cover, market and promote my books. They’re amazing.
Me: Do you see writing as a career?
Alex: It’s my career and my hobby. I love language and storytelling, and I put my heart into every story I write. It’s what I’m meant to do, whether for an audience or not. I’ve been fortunate to be able to begin my writing career so young, and I’m going to stick with it!
Me: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Alex: If left to my own devices, I would go through a hundred drafts of a story to get it “just right�. So, another twenty rounds of editing! But really, there’s a point I know I have to let it go and begin work on the next story� So I suppose it’s a good thing.
Me: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Alex: I’ve always loved stories � I was the bookworm devouring multiple books a week in middle school. That grew into telling my own stories. I think there were just so many characters in my head, I needed to get them out!
Me: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Of course! This comes from my paranormal sci-fi romance novella, Broken Wings:
But Adrian’s mind was whirring with machinations—the sight of the dead bird on the kitchen floor evoked both fear and cold understanding. “That was you. The bird on the floor,� he breathed. “…It was you. You are an animal.�
Cassius shook his head. “We� My kind� We are both animal and other. I didn’t know where I was or why. Or who you were…� He looked up suddenly. “Who are you?�
Adrian resented being put on the spot. “Adrian Kelt. And I have no idea who the hell you are or what you’re doing here. Was that you, in the kitchen just a minute ago? Were you watching me as a bird?�
Cassius shifted uncomfortably, and his wings flexed in closely to his body. “You don’t understand—we are not supposed to be seen by humans. If we were known, it would mean a witch hunt, like in the old days. They would search us out and kill us.�
Adrian couldn’t stomach much more. “You still haven’t told me who we is! There are more people like you?� The aggression of that statement hit him guiltily. “I mean� people with wings?�
“We aren’t just people with wings,� Cassius growled. He looked as if he wanted to rise and pace, but the wound in his leg kept him grounded. His wings fluttered slightly instead. “We are people of the clouds and birds of the ground. We’re the crossovers. The last time you people knew about us, you hunted us almost to extinction. Even now, there are so few of us left we live more often as birds than our true selves.�
The information battered Adrian with more mystery. “Are you telling me you’re a bird?�
He sighed restlessly. “We can become birds. It is a dichotomy in us. I am in my true form now, but if necessary, I can become a bird in appearance. It has always been that way…�
Me: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Alex: Finding the right names for my characters. Sometimes the name just comes to me, but when it doesn’t, I have to cycle through three or four per character to find just the right one.
Me: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Alex: My favorite author is J.R.R. Tolkien, who wrote The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I loved LotR, but my favorite work by him would be The Silmarillion, which is like a history and legend book for his world. His characters are simultaneously epic and tragic, and I loved the grandness of it all. I take my copy of the Silmarillion with me on every trip and adventure, just in case.
Me: Do you have to travel much concerning your books?
Alex: I haven’t done any traveling for my writing, yet. I hope someday to visit Europe and some of the museums, castles and monuments there (especially in the UK!) but haven’t made it yet.
Me: Who designed the covers?
Alex: Carl J. Franklin at Rebel Ink Press designs my covers. He’s really amazing!
Me: Isn't he amazing! He did my cover for The Last Alive and OMG I cried! It was perfect!
Me: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Alex: Starting it, definitely. Once I get rolling, I can push myself just to see it through. But the blank Word Doc is my mortal enemy!
Me: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Alex: I think I learn something about myself from every book I write. Seeing how my characters develop, and the lessons they learn, are as much my journey as the readers�. It’s wonderful to see them grow and win through to the happily ever after.
Me: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Alex: I would say to read � read quality fiction � as much and as often as you can. Read the classics, the great writers, and the obscure geniuses you love. Challenge yourself to write as well as they do. Like the saying goes, “Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.� The higher you aim, the better your work will be in the end, whether you win any awards or acknowledgment or not.
Me: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Alex: Thank you � thank you a hundred times over. I’m so grateful to everyone who’s picked up one of my stories. I’m still blown away by the fact I’m a published author, and you all make that possible. Thank you J
Me: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
Alex: The books that have given me the most challenges are my Knights of Amaranth series. I rewrote a significant part of Remain (Book One), and now I’m knee-deep in Book Two, Rook, and I just decided to restructure a main character again to improve the story. It’s a lot of work rewriting and reshuffling the plot, but I think it will be worth it in the end.
Read more at:
Thanks for stopping over, Alex! Let's get started!
Me: What inspired you to write your first book?
Alex: I wrote Drown when I was a junior/senior in high school. I am a very intense person, but also very quiet, and writing was my way of getting all that intensity out. One day I just started writing it, and the story grew over time. Writing was my hobby and my coping mechanism� It still is! But Drown dealt heavily with issues I was facing myself at the time � faith and hate, love and shame.
Me: Do you have a specific writing style?
Alex: I think the key feature of my writing is intense emotion. I write in several different genres, but the thing that unites all my stories are complex characters and high-stakes plots. That’s the fun of writing romance, though. I get to promise my characters a happy ending, even if the road to it is difficult.
Me: How did you come up with the title?
Alex: Drown’s title came directly from a line in the book: “Dominic returned to his Bible and Damion returned to his blade, and both drowned in the words of their gods.�
Me: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Alex: The message/theme in Drown is self-empowerment, being responsible for your own happiness and sense of value. Both of my main characters struggle with self-esteem for different reasons, and their lesson to learn is that they have value independent of what others think—even each other.
Me: How much of the book is realistic?
Alex: Drown is a modern romance, and doesn’t have any paranormal events. It is written a bit in the vein of literary fiction, though, so I chose my focus very intentionally. Every scene has a purpose, and I throw a bit of symbolism in.
Me: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
A;ex: Damion and Dom both face challenges I did � I grew up in a Christian home the way Damion did, and I struggled with depression and self-harm. I also fought to define myself as a bisexual Christian the way Dom does. The events in the book aren’t based literally on my experiences, but the thematic elements and the internal conflicts within Dom and Damion both ring very true to me.
Me: What books have most influenced your life most?
Alex: J.R.R. Tolkien’s works have influenced me the most, hands down! His writing has influenced mine, and his stories have been a part of my life since I was young.
Me: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Alex: Honestly, my husband Anthony Gillis has been my mentor in many ways. He writes fantasy, sci-fi and historical adventure novels. He has a more analytical mind than I do, so he often finds the stray holes in my writing (world-building, etc) that my intuitive mind has failed to consider. I call him my compass: when I lose my way, he’s always there to help me find my way home.
Me: What book are you reading now?
Alex: Right now I’m reading The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian.
Me: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Alex: I’ve really enjoyed reading the Nevermore series by Kelly Creagh. I also adore R. Cooper’s works!
Me: What are your current projects?
Alex: My current big romance project is Rook, the second book in my Knights of Amaranth series. I’m also working on an epic fantasy story collection called Ere the Dawn, a fantasy romance called Serpent, and a modern romance called Losing the Shore. I like to multitask!
Me: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
Alex: Rebel Ink Press has been an incredible home for me over the last year. I’m so grateful for everything they’ve done, and all the hard work they’ve put in to cover, market and promote my books. They’re amazing.
Me: Do you see writing as a career?
Alex: It’s my career and my hobby. I love language and storytelling, and I put my heart into every story I write. It’s what I’m meant to do, whether for an audience or not. I’ve been fortunate to be able to begin my writing career so young, and I’m going to stick with it!
Me: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Alex: If left to my own devices, I would go through a hundred drafts of a story to get it “just right�. So, another twenty rounds of editing! But really, there’s a point I know I have to let it go and begin work on the next story� So I suppose it’s a good thing.
Me: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Alex: I’ve always loved stories � I was the bookworm devouring multiple books a week in middle school. That grew into telling my own stories. I think there were just so many characters in my head, I needed to get them out!
Me: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Of course! This comes from my paranormal sci-fi romance novella, Broken Wings:
But Adrian’s mind was whirring with machinations—the sight of the dead bird on the kitchen floor evoked both fear and cold understanding. “That was you. The bird on the floor,� he breathed. “…It was you. You are an animal.�
Cassius shook his head. “We� My kind� We are both animal and other. I didn’t know where I was or why. Or who you were…� He looked up suddenly. “Who are you?�
Adrian resented being put on the spot. “Adrian Kelt. And I have no idea who the hell you are or what you’re doing here. Was that you, in the kitchen just a minute ago? Were you watching me as a bird?�
Cassius shifted uncomfortably, and his wings flexed in closely to his body. “You don’t understand—we are not supposed to be seen by humans. If we were known, it would mean a witch hunt, like in the old days. They would search us out and kill us.�
Adrian couldn’t stomach much more. “You still haven’t told me who we is! There are more people like you?� The aggression of that statement hit him guiltily. “I mean� people with wings?�
“We aren’t just people with wings,� Cassius growled. He looked as if he wanted to rise and pace, but the wound in his leg kept him grounded. His wings fluttered slightly instead. “We are people of the clouds and birds of the ground. We’re the crossovers. The last time you people knew about us, you hunted us almost to extinction. Even now, there are so few of us left we live more often as birds than our true selves.�
The information battered Adrian with more mystery. “Are you telling me you’re a bird?�
He sighed restlessly. “We can become birds. It is a dichotomy in us. I am in my true form now, but if necessary, I can become a bird in appearance. It has always been that way…�
Me: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Alex: Finding the right names for my characters. Sometimes the name just comes to me, but when it doesn’t, I have to cycle through three or four per character to find just the right one.
Me: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Alex: My favorite author is J.R.R. Tolkien, who wrote The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I loved LotR, but my favorite work by him would be The Silmarillion, which is like a history and legend book for his world. His characters are simultaneously epic and tragic, and I loved the grandness of it all. I take my copy of the Silmarillion with me on every trip and adventure, just in case.
Me: Do you have to travel much concerning your books?
Alex: I haven’t done any traveling for my writing, yet. I hope someday to visit Europe and some of the museums, castles and monuments there (especially in the UK!) but haven’t made it yet.
Me: Who designed the covers?
Alex: Carl J. Franklin at Rebel Ink Press designs my covers. He’s really amazing!
Me: Isn't he amazing! He did my cover for The Last Alive and OMG I cried! It was perfect!
Me: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Alex: Starting it, definitely. Once I get rolling, I can push myself just to see it through. But the blank Word Doc is my mortal enemy!
Me: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Alex: I think I learn something about myself from every book I write. Seeing how my characters develop, and the lessons they learn, are as much my journey as the readers�. It’s wonderful to see them grow and win through to the happily ever after.
Me: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Alex: I would say to read � read quality fiction � as much and as often as you can. Read the classics, the great writers, and the obscure geniuses you love. Challenge yourself to write as well as they do. Like the saying goes, “Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.� The higher you aim, the better your work will be in the end, whether you win any awards or acknowledgment or not.
Me: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Alex: Thank you � thank you a hundred times over. I’m so grateful to everyone who’s picked up one of my stories. I’m still blown away by the fact I’m a published author, and you all make that possible. Thank you J
Me: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
Alex: The books that have given me the most challenges are my Knights of Amaranth series. I rewrote a significant part of Remain (Book One), and now I’m knee-deep in Book Two, Rook, and I just decided to restructure a main character again to improve the story. It’s a lot of work rewriting and reshuffling the plot, but I think it will be worth it in the end.
Read more at:
September 29, 2013
Sit Down with Amy L Peterson
Today I'm grabbing a latte and sitting down with Amy Peterson author of Something Furry Underfoot.
Amy, thanks for joining me today! Let's dive in shall we?
Me: What books/authors have influenced your writing?
Amy: Back when people still wrote books on typewriters, Beverly Cleary was the primary author influencing me; Erma Bombeck was the primary author who influenced me after that.
Me: How did you come up with the title(s)? I came up with a couple of titles, my friends shot them down, and we settled on Something Furry Underfoot.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Amy: My book is a humorous, touching memoir, so it’s about my experiences raising a whole bunch of animals I knew nothing about and how I figured out how to care for and spoil each one. Of course, some readers will think the book is about how all the animals trained me to spoil them.
Me: What books have most influenced your life most? Erma Bombeck’s. I love her wit and always thought it’d be nifty to write like her.
What book are you reading now?
Amy: Detour Trail by Joy V. Smith.
Me: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Amy: Marketing a book takes up all my spare time--which is time after work where I manage a grants program, after taking care of my pets, after trying to pay some attention to my husband, and after an occasional run through the woods to put feeling back into my butt, which I sit on all day.
Me: What are your current projects?
Me: I’ve hired a book promoter to help get the word out about my book. If this book takes off, I’ll work on my next book, which will be about how I tend to get into trouble whenever I travel somewhere: like getting scolded for touching a seahorse in a marine park; getting pulled over by a park ranger for driving too close to the center lane in the dead of winter in Yellowstone National Park; and getting lost while backpacking in Montana.
Me: Do you see writing as a career?
Me: Not unless I get really, really lucky. The thing is, just about anyone can write a book; not many people can do well enough at it to make it a full-time gig.
Me: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Amy: Gosh, I hope not. Do you think I should? Now I’m going to worry about it�.
Me: How did you get started with the writing venture?
Amy: I was encouraged by a teacher to enter a Law Day essay contest in grade school and won second place. My prize was $50 and the chance to meet a judge on Law Day. I realized then that writing took a lot of time and the money wasn’t very good. I also realized I didn’t want to be a judge, because the one I met was really grumpy.
Me: Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?
Amy: Finding quality time to write is a challenge most days, because when I do sit get down at my computer, that’s when my chatty hubby wants to tell me about the fishing lures he just ordered and what lake he hopes we’ll use them on. Then our two puppies want to go outside, the cat meows for his treats, or the mynah birds need to be tucked into their cages. Most days, I write in half-hour stints, nodding to my husband and going “Uh huh. Oh really?� along the way. I think that has something to do with all the pets I have—I inadvertently nodded and another hamster showed up the next day. We have 7 hamsters.
Me: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Amy: If you have to self-publish and don’t have the money for a book promoter, plan to spend as much time marketing on your own as you did writing your book. And be sure to thank the people like Heather who make the time to help get the word out. This is a great service! Thank you!
Me: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Amy: My goal in writing Something Furry Underfoot was to bring people into my messy, animal-dominated home and show them what it’s like to try to figure out how to care for and spoil each pet, and how each one is special and has different personalities and needs. Besides, where else can you read about a male hedgehog that escaped several times to hook up with our female hedgehog and fathered several litters of baby hedgehogs? Where else can you read about a domestic duck named Bumpkin that out-pecked two dogs and a cat? Where else can you get great advice in the form of tips? Consider Tip #28: It is important (although not easy) to know a boy gerbil from a girl gerbil. I should also mention that some proceeds from Something Furry Underfoot will support animal rescue organizations, so the more books I sell, the more we are all supporting such organizations.
Me: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
Amy: One challenge was waiting—waiting for my book converter to convert my books for me; waiting for updates to my web page; waiting for people to review the final draft; and waiting to have the money to pay for marketing I can’t do on my own. I’m a terrible waiter. Probably not a good waitress, either, though I’ve never been one.
Me: What genre do you like writing the most?
Amy: So far, it’s been humorous, touching memoirs. My first book, From Zero to Four Kids in Thirty Seconds, was of that genre and is about becoming a stepmom to four kids. I included a whole bunch of tips for stepmoms in that book and just continued with the idea of including tips when I wrote Something Furry Underfoot. Hopefully, that makes my memoir more useful than the average memoir.
Me: Do you ever experience writer's block?
Amy: I haven’t so far, probably because I write memoirs and am still experiencing new things to write about. For example, after my old loyal dog, Dusty, passed away in August, my husband found a puppy he wanted in Pennsylvania. Now Pennsylvania is a bit of a drive from Michigan, but off we went anyway, and well, one puppy turned into buying two puppies, giving me yet another story to tell. I blog at amylpeterson.com.
Me: Do you write an outline before every book you write?
Amy: Both From Zero to Four Kids in Thirty Seconds and Something Furry Underfoot were chronological for the most part. From Zero to Four Kids in Thirty Seconds is how I blundered my way through meeting my four step kids for the first time, cooked my first dinner for them, avoided and eventually met the Ex, endured the under-rating sport of planning a wedding, and took a humorous, yet horrible family “vacation� in Disney World with my new family and my siblings� family. Something Furry Underfoot covers 18 years caring for and falling for pets. In writing this book, I just had to figure out the year we got each of our pets, and wrote the chapters in that order. So, I had a general outline for both books based on the general order in which events happened.
Me: Have you ever hated something you wrote?
Amy: I wrote a response to some questions posed for my high school reunion a few years back when I was going through a low point. I regret having filled that out at all because anyone who read it probably would have whispered, “I bet she’s on Prozac.�
Check out some buy links and where Amy hangs out
Amy, thanks for joining me today! Let's dive in shall we?
Me: What books/authors have influenced your writing?
Amy: Back when people still wrote books on typewriters, Beverly Cleary was the primary author influencing me; Erma Bombeck was the primary author who influenced me after that.
Me: How did you come up with the title(s)? I came up with a couple of titles, my friends shot them down, and we settled on Something Furry Underfoot.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Amy: My book is a humorous, touching memoir, so it’s about my experiences raising a whole bunch of animals I knew nothing about and how I figured out how to care for and spoil each one. Of course, some readers will think the book is about how all the animals trained me to spoil them.
Me: What books have most influenced your life most? Erma Bombeck’s. I love her wit and always thought it’d be nifty to write like her.
What book are you reading now?
Amy: Detour Trail by Joy V. Smith.
Me: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Amy: Marketing a book takes up all my spare time--which is time after work where I manage a grants program, after taking care of my pets, after trying to pay some attention to my husband, and after an occasional run through the woods to put feeling back into my butt, which I sit on all day.
Me: What are your current projects?
Me: I’ve hired a book promoter to help get the word out about my book. If this book takes off, I’ll work on my next book, which will be about how I tend to get into trouble whenever I travel somewhere: like getting scolded for touching a seahorse in a marine park; getting pulled over by a park ranger for driving too close to the center lane in the dead of winter in Yellowstone National Park; and getting lost while backpacking in Montana.
Me: Do you see writing as a career?
Me: Not unless I get really, really lucky. The thing is, just about anyone can write a book; not many people can do well enough at it to make it a full-time gig.
Me: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Amy: Gosh, I hope not. Do you think I should? Now I’m going to worry about it�.
Me: How did you get started with the writing venture?
Amy: I was encouraged by a teacher to enter a Law Day essay contest in grade school and won second place. My prize was $50 and the chance to meet a judge on Law Day. I realized then that writing took a lot of time and the money wasn’t very good. I also realized I didn’t want to be a judge, because the one I met was really grumpy.
Me: Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?
Amy: Finding quality time to write is a challenge most days, because when I do sit get down at my computer, that’s when my chatty hubby wants to tell me about the fishing lures he just ordered and what lake he hopes we’ll use them on. Then our two puppies want to go outside, the cat meows for his treats, or the mynah birds need to be tucked into their cages. Most days, I write in half-hour stints, nodding to my husband and going “Uh huh. Oh really?� along the way. I think that has something to do with all the pets I have—I inadvertently nodded and another hamster showed up the next day. We have 7 hamsters.
Me: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Amy: If you have to self-publish and don’t have the money for a book promoter, plan to spend as much time marketing on your own as you did writing your book. And be sure to thank the people like Heather who make the time to help get the word out. This is a great service! Thank you!
Me: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Amy: My goal in writing Something Furry Underfoot was to bring people into my messy, animal-dominated home and show them what it’s like to try to figure out how to care for and spoil each pet, and how each one is special and has different personalities and needs. Besides, where else can you read about a male hedgehog that escaped several times to hook up with our female hedgehog and fathered several litters of baby hedgehogs? Where else can you read about a domestic duck named Bumpkin that out-pecked two dogs and a cat? Where else can you get great advice in the form of tips? Consider Tip #28: It is important (although not easy) to know a boy gerbil from a girl gerbil. I should also mention that some proceeds from Something Furry Underfoot will support animal rescue organizations, so the more books I sell, the more we are all supporting such organizations.
Me: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
Amy: One challenge was waiting—waiting for my book converter to convert my books for me; waiting for updates to my web page; waiting for people to review the final draft; and waiting to have the money to pay for marketing I can’t do on my own. I’m a terrible waiter. Probably not a good waitress, either, though I’ve never been one.
Me: What genre do you like writing the most?
Amy: So far, it’s been humorous, touching memoirs. My first book, From Zero to Four Kids in Thirty Seconds, was of that genre and is about becoming a stepmom to four kids. I included a whole bunch of tips for stepmoms in that book and just continued with the idea of including tips when I wrote Something Furry Underfoot. Hopefully, that makes my memoir more useful than the average memoir.
Me: Do you ever experience writer's block?
Amy: I haven’t so far, probably because I write memoirs and am still experiencing new things to write about. For example, after my old loyal dog, Dusty, passed away in August, my husband found a puppy he wanted in Pennsylvania. Now Pennsylvania is a bit of a drive from Michigan, but off we went anyway, and well, one puppy turned into buying two puppies, giving me yet another story to tell. I blog at amylpeterson.com.
Me: Do you write an outline before every book you write?
Amy: Both From Zero to Four Kids in Thirty Seconds and Something Furry Underfoot were chronological for the most part. From Zero to Four Kids in Thirty Seconds is how I blundered my way through meeting my four step kids for the first time, cooked my first dinner for them, avoided and eventually met the Ex, endured the under-rating sport of planning a wedding, and took a humorous, yet horrible family “vacation� in Disney World with my new family and my siblings� family. Something Furry Underfoot covers 18 years caring for and falling for pets. In writing this book, I just had to figure out the year we got each of our pets, and wrote the chapters in that order. So, I had a general outline for both books based on the general order in which events happened.
Me: Have you ever hated something you wrote?
Amy: I wrote a response to some questions posed for my high school reunion a few years back when I was going through a low point. I regret having filled that out at all because anyone who read it probably would have whispered, “I bet she’s on Prozac.�
Check out some buy links and where Amy hangs out
September 18, 2013
The query letter
Today on the blog I discussed query letters. I may not be great at writing them, but I sure as heck know about them.
I've written enough.
I'm not a fan of these things, but they are a necessary evil of the literary world. At least for those of us who are interested in trade publishing.
If you are interested in reading my thoughts on query letters stop on over.
I've written enough.
I'm not a fan of these things, but they are a necessary evil of the literary world. At least for those of us who are interested in trade publishing.
If you are interested in reading my thoughts on query letters stop on over.
September 9, 2013
My new book trailer!
I've debated for along time whether or not to have a book trailer done.
After discussing things with my husband...it was done! It went live early this morning and it is AWESOME!
Check it out guys!
After discussing things with my husband...it was done! It went live early this morning and it is AWESOME!
Check it out guys!
Sit Down Saturday with Carol Underhill!
This weekend I had my Sit Down with Carol Underhill author of Courage to Hope!
Stop by my blog to check out her Q & A!
Stop by my blog to check out her Q & A!
August 31, 2013
Sitting down with Alyssa Hubbard!
Today was my sit down with author Alyssa Hubbard!
You can check out her Q & A over at my blog!
You can check out her Q & A over at my blog!
August 15, 2013
Summer Lovin' Blog Hop
My publisher, Rebel Ink Press, is having a Summer Lovin' Blog Hop from Aug 15-17.
They also turn 3 this week!
So it's birthday fun on a lot of us Rebel's blogs.
At the end of the hop there is going to be a giveaway!!! Who doesn't love free stuff? What's being given away? A Kindle Paperwhite and a swag basket!!!
They also turn 3 this week!
So it's birthday fun on a lot of us Rebel's blogs.
At the end of the hop there is going to be a giveaway!!! Who doesn't love free stuff? What's being given away? A Kindle Paperwhite and a swag basket!!!
August 11, 2013
Sit Down Saturday with Justin Bienvenu
I sat down with Justin Bienvenue yesterday for a fun Q&A!
You can hop over to my blog to check it out.
You can hop over to my blog to check it out.
